Health literacy from the perspective of people with cardiovascular diseases: a study of mixed methods

ABSTRACT Objective: Analyze health literacy from the perspective of people with cardiovascular diseases. Method: Mixed methods study, sequential explanatory, with 124 people in the quantitative stage and six in the qualitative stage. Data collection through the Health Literacy Questionnaire with interviews between April and November 2023 in Ijuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data were analyzed descriptively, inferentially, with content analysis and integration. Results: Participants rarely compare health information from different sources, face inequities in guidance, and delegate care to family members. The preventive medicine program can facilitate health literacy by emphasizing “social support” and “active interaction with health professionals” as strategies for overcoming vulnerabilities. Conclusions: People with cardiovascular diseases have weaknesses in health literacy, influenced by age and education, compromising their autonomy in care. The integration of data revealed consistency and discrepancies between perception and practice, pointing to the need for specific interventions.